Tom Brady Discusses 'Challenges' After Gisele Bündchen Divorce Announcement

Tom Brady has discussed his divorce from Gisele Bündchen for the first time and admitted that it had been "challenging."

The 45-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback has had a torrid time on the field after reversing his decision to retire over the summer.

On Friday, he and Gisele both announced on social media that they were splitting and that a divorce has been finalized.

Speaking on SiriusXM podcast Let's Go! with Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray, the NFL star said that he will be focusing on his children during this difficult time in his life, as well as trying to turn around the fortunes of the Bucs after an under-par start to the season.

Brady said on the podcast: "I think there's a lot of professionals in life that go through things that they deal with at work and they deal with at home.

"Obviously the good news is it's a very amicable situation and I'm really focused on two things, taking care of my family and certainly my children and, secondly, doing the best job I can to win football games.

"So that's what professionals do. You focus at work when it's time to work, and then when you come home you focus on the priorities that are at home. All you can do is the best you could do.

"That's what I'll just continue to do as long as I'm working and as long as I'm being a dad."

Brady was pressed further by Gray about the split and his professional life, asking the Bucs star: "Is there a challenge compartmentalizing between the two?"

The quarterback replied: "Well, I think that's what being a professional is. I've dealt with a lot of challenging situations on and off the field over 23 years, and a lot of it does play out in front of a lot of people.

"I think the interesting thing for a football player, or an athlete in general, is, you know, you're out there, I always say we're not actors. Even though we're on TV, you know, that is our real self out there. We're trying to do our best.

"That's how people really have gotten to know me over the years, by being on TV."

Brady continued: "And that is an authentic self that's out there to compete with my teammates every day. And you're giving all you can to the team and, you know, everyone's going through different things. We all have our unique challenges in life. We're all humans.

"We do the best we could do. I have incredible parents that have always taught me the right way to do things. I want to be a great father to my children and always try to do things the right way as well.

"And to deal with things in your life that have challenges, you wanna deal with them in the best possible way. So I want to always be able to hold my head high on and off the field, and I'm gonna try to continue to do that for as long as I'm here."

A top lawyer has told Newsweek that Brady and Bündchen are right to focus on their children as their divorce is finalized, as it can be a turbulent time for a family.

Leslie Barbara, Chair of the Matrimonial Law Group at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, told Newsweek that the couple will have to focus on their children, son Benjamin, 12, and daughter Vivian, 9. Tom is also dad to son Jack, 15, whom he shares with ex Bridget Moynahan.

Barbara said: "Often, when we hear about a celebrity divorce, it's only after the details of the separation have all been hammered out behind the scenes.

"To the public, this is new information, and we hear that they 'lawyered up' and that the battle is just beginning. But these deals are typically negotiated and concluded before we even know about them.

"Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen are no exception here, as this filing comes with an executed settlement agreement.

"The fact that there is already a deal done demonstrates that the two parties were able to comport themselves amicably and come to a speedy resolution—and that is good news. We can certainly presume that there was a prenup in place that facilitated that as well."

Barbara spoke about the financial side of the divorce, and with both individuals wealthy in their own right, she said that this would be an easy obstacle to cross.

Barbara told Newsweek: "Even though Tom is purported to be the spouse with the lesser net worth, we are talking about two extremely well-off people with assets in the hundreds of millions of dollars each, so there is plenty of money to go around.

"Both parties will be able to maintain their current lifestyles, so any discussions of need-based alimony would not be relevant. The forefront of the case would center around their two children—meaning custody, access and child support."

Speaking about the custody of the children, Barbara said that they will probably reside with their mother while Tom is on the road for the NFL season.

She concluded: "It is reported that Tom and Gisele reached an agreement to share joint-legal custody.

"The most likely scenario is that Gisele currently has residential custody because Tom is so often out of town playing football. Perhaps that arrangement will shift more towards a shared custody arrangement once Tom does retire for good."

Brady announced the split on his Instagram Story on Friday in a statement that read: "In recent days, my wife and I finalized our divorce from one another after 13 years of marriage. We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together.

"We are blessed with beautiful and wonderful children who will continue to be the center of our world in every way. We will continue to work together as parents to always ensure they receive the love and attention they deserve."

He continued: "We arrived at this decision to end our marriage after much consideration. Doing so is, of course, painful and difficult, like it is for many people who go through the same thing every day around the world. However, we wish only the best for each other as we pursue whatever new chapters in our lives that are yet to be written.

"And we kindly ask for privacy and respect as we navigate what is to come in the days and weeks ahead," the California native concluded. "Thank you."

Brazilian model Bündchen also wrote on social media about the divorce.

"With much gratitude for our time together, Tom and I have amicably finalized our divorce," she said. "My priority has always been and will continue to be our children whom I love with all my heart. We will continue co-parenting to give them the love, care and attention they greatly deserve.

"The decision to end a marriage is never easy but we have grown apart and while it is, of course, difficult to go through something like this, I feel blessed for the time we had together and only wish the best for Tom always.

"I kindly ask that our privacy be respected during this sensitive time. Thank you."